EU sustainable materials initiative

BRUSSELS - In response to a growing scarcity of resources and the continued rise in raw material costs which are dampening prospects for economic growth in Europe, Belgium policymakers are calling for a ‘cradle to cradle’ life-cycle assessment of consumer goods such as textiles.

The Belgian EU Presidency says it now wants to clean up industrial processes in Europe by promoting what it says is a ‘cradle-to-cradle’ approach to resource management in the manufacturing sector.